Portsmouth woman could face life in prison in heroin death: Police say she sold drug to 22-year-old woman who died

Tuesday

Jan 8, 2013 at 3:15 AM

By Andrea Bulfinchabulfinch@fosters.com

PORTSMOUTH — A city resident accused of selling heroin to a 22-year-old woman who fatally overdosed in November could face life in prison.

At her arraignment Monday, bail was set at $50,000 cash only for Jennifer Landry, 41, formerly of 309 Oriental Gardens, who police allege sold heroin to Sveltlana Filippenko, 22, on Nov. 20. Filippenko, who was out on bail conditions for the sale of a controlled drug, was found dead the following day by her brother after either ingesting or injecting the heroin she allegedly got from Landry.

According to an affidavit by Detective Matt Hester, police were aware of Filippenko’s drug use and on June 4, 2012, she had been arrested and charged with sale of a controlled drug after making a sale to a confidential informant. Fileppenko had told a detective at that time she had been clean from using heroin for a week but was having a “tough time” refraining from heroin use.

At the time of the Nov. 20 sale, Landry, who told presiding Judge Sawako Gardner she was not employed due to being disabled, was out on bail from a July drug charge.

Filippenko’s brother found his sister laying on her bedroom floor when he entered the room on Wednesday, Nov. 21 to shut off an alarm clock that was sounding at approximately 9:30 a.m., according to the affidavit. He reported the death a short time after at 9:42 a.m.

Documents also indicate Detective Aaron Goodwin collected evidence from the woman’s bedroom including a Victoria’s Secret shopping bag found in her closet containing five syringes, a spoon with brown residue, and four “baggie corners” with white residue. Another baggie with white residue was found in her purse. Ten empty wrappers for suboxone along with two unopened wrappers of the drug, used to treat opiate addiction, were also found.

Hester’s affidavit states that on Nov. 23 during the booking process of a Robert Chase, 26, who was involved in a theft at BJ’s Wholesale Club in Portsmouth, was told Chase wanted to speak with him regarding Landry, who happened to be present at the time of Chase’s arrest.

Chase alleged he witnessed Landry sell Fileppenko heroin on Nov. 20, the day before her death, behind a business on Woodbury Avenue. He also said he had previously introduced the two women.

Should Landry post bail, she is to undergo random drug testing on a weekly basis. Prosecutor David Colby said Landry is considered both a flight risk and a danger to society based on her lengthy criminal record.

Deputy Police Chief Corey MacDonald said the message of this incident is two-fold.

He said for the addicts living in the Seacoast community, this all shows what that lifestyle can lead to and should be an impetus to get help. And for those who profit from drug sales, he hopes it is clear that the Portsmouth Police Department will expend the resources and power necessary resolve these cases, calling the city a “bad place to be” for dealers.

MacDonald also praised the work of detectives involved in this case who pieced a lot of “moving parts” including interviews, phone messages and text messages.

“The detectives did a good job on this case and put it together,” he said.

Landry, who declined to speak in response to her bail conditions, faces a probable cause hearing Jan. 15.